Emelia looked at the uninvited pair in front of her with a tired look in her eyes. Ultimately, she decided that there was no point in speaking to them.
It was clear that these two wouldn't take her word seriously. So she would need to call in reinforcements.
'Looks like I will need to call Madam after all. I wanted to avoid relying on her, but if it is about Sena, I'm sure her mother would like to know as well.'
Emelia felt like this was all her fault. Even if she knew that she wasn't at fault and that the Madam would not blame her either, she still couldn't make herself feel any better.
"For now, sit down. What would you like to have? Tea, coffee? Juice?"
Emelia asked, and the pair gave her a weird look before they looked around the mansion with a complicated expression.
"Hey, are you the only one in here with the alphas? What about the other people working here? The butlers, maids?"
Minerva asked in a tense voice.
She wasn't from a rich family, but because of her status as 'Sena Heinsberg's best friend,' she was awarded some privileges—and those included money to maintain a lifestyle that could match Sena's.
Even someone like her had a maid or two at home.
"There is no one else here. Now, if you would please tell me what you want, I can get it for you."
Emelia tried hard not to curse at the spoiled brats in front of her.
She knew this wasn't entirely their fault, and a lot of their words and tone could be attributed to their upbringing. But that didn't mean she wasn't annoyed by what was happening.
Especially when she saw the looks she was getting.
They were filled with pity—that she had to do her own work, that she didn't have people at her beck and call.
'These spoiled brats. Then again, I have no room to complain, since I enjoyed a lot of the benefits of being rich as well.'
Emelia kept herself in check and continued smiling.
Seeing that their looks were having no effect on Emelia, Sena finally sat down and gave Emelia one last look before looking away.
"I'll have juice. Sugar-free, if you have any. I need to watch my figure. But you know, I always thought that lowly work like housekeeping was strangely suited to you. Maybe it's because of your origins?"
Sena's words almost sounded teasing, if you ignored the malicious undertone.
Not that it bothered Emelia even a little. She had long known about Sena's temper and gotten used to it over time.
Now, it was easy to smile and just go about her way when Sena said things like this.
Emelia turned toward Minerva next, and her smile made Minerva nervous. Before Minerva could look away, Emelia asked her the same question.
"So, what would you like to have? Tea? Coffee? Or something else?"
Emelia's smile was too bright, and Minerva felt herself freeze before realizing she was being asked a question.
With a frustrated sigh, she decided to answer Emelia's question.
"I would like to have juice as well. The type doesn't matter since I'm not picky."
Those were fighting words, but Sena was too busy looking around the mansion to notice the barely concealed jab Minerva had made at her.
Emelia didn't say anything further. She just smiled and got back to work.
As soon as she was in the kitchen, she sent her adoptive mother a message, telling her that Sena and Minerva were at the main mansion and had likely come to meet the alphas.
Sena's mother gave Emelia a sigh over the message before telling her to keep the two busy while she sent someone to bring them back.
Emelia headed back to the drawing room with a tray in her hand and quickly took a seat in front of the pair.
Her eyes gave them a searching look, and the intensity finally caused Sena to feel uncomfortable and open her mouth.
"W-What are you looking at?"
Emelia blinked before deciding it was time to question the pair about their intentions.
"Sena, can you tell me now what you are doing here? As far as I know, it is school time for you."
Emelia took a sip of her tea as she asked the question, and Sena felt annoyed by her nagging.
"Tsk, you think you're so smart? Well, you know exactly why I'm here. I'm here because I want my place back. You stole it from me. You know damn well that it was I who was supposed to be the warden, not you. I want you to give me my place back."
Sena yelled loudly, and her voice echoed inside the house. Her smug expression told Emelia that this was intentional.
'Well, it's a good plan. But a useless one at the moment. After all, there's no one but us in this place.'
Emelia sighed before giving Sena a serious look.
"Sena, your mother cleared the situation. I am the warden now and that won't change until the time comes for the next warden. That's how it has always been. Even if you want to, you can't become the warden now. And even if you could, it's not safe for you."
Emelia recalled everything that had happened so far—and she was just a beta.
Had she been an omega… or Sena… she didn't even want to imagine what could've happened.
"This isn't fair. It was my decision, but you all made it on your own. I wanted to—"
Sena yelled, and Emelia felt another headache coming. Before she could clear the air—or Sena could finish—the doorbell rang, and Emelia stood up.
"I'll go and check who it is."
Emelia's voice was a little hopeful, wishing the person at the door had come to take Sena back.
Unfortunately, when she opened the door, it was Sehyun. He beamed at Emelia with a giant smile on his face, and her heart dropped into her chest.
'This idiot! What is he doing back?'
One of the three alphas of the house was the last person Emelia wanted to see at the moment, and she felt her heart skip a beat in fear of what would happen next.
Emelia quickly stepped outside and closed the door behind her, forcing a strained smile onto her face as she glared at Sehyun.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you all go out for the day?" she whispered sharply.
Sehyun tilted his head, still grinning. "We did. But I forgot my wallet. Came back to grab it. Why are you acting so tense? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Emelia did feel like she had seen a ghost.
But it was a ghost she wanted to punch.
"Emelia, who's at the door? Are you going to invite them inside?"
Sena called out and Sehyun just raised his eyebrow at her to ask what was going on. Emelia felt like she had no idea but to face the music now.
In her heart, Emelia felt fear.
This was the first meeting between the person who should have been the warden and an omega and the cursed alphas who needed her. Emelia had no idea what would happen next and she did not feel ready either.